VII

Teyana Taylor's been flirting with her big break for years, releasing the single "Google Me" in 2008 and singing on a number of mentor Kanye West's tracks. She's officially arrived with her studio debut, <i>VII</i>. A sultry throwback to '90s R&B with modern flourishes, the album highlights Taylor's powerhouse pipes, with skeletal tunes like "Sorry" and "Request" placing her vocals front and center. "Just Different" is a slinking slow jam. "Maybe" blends woozy atmospherics into the mix, and "Put Your Love On" toys with dancehall. Compared to the avant-garde R&B of 2014 breakouts like Tinashe and FKA Twigs, <i>VII</i> is more traditional, but it's no less compelling.